On islands like Nevis, Barbuda and St. Eustatius, travelers will experience a different Caribbean than the major resort destinations. / Getty Images/Creatas RF

by USA TODAY

by USA TODAY

USA TODAY Travel asked editors at The Huffington Post to share some of the site's top travel stories this week. Here are their picks:

Exploring the unknown Caribbean: The lesser known islands of the Caribbean paint a more complicated image of the region, allowing travelers more insight into colonial legacies, local cultures and the specific demands of vastly-varied landscapes. Though most of the isles that fall into this category are within eyesight of major international destinations, they've maintained their flavors by being inconvenient to get to or maintaining such low profiles that few sun chasers even think of seeking them out. These eight islands represent the unknown Caribbean, a world apart from a world apart.

How to fly through airport security: For many travelers, facing the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is one of the most frustrating aspects of air travel. The media often buzzes with tales of privacy violation and uncouth security agents. Couple that with long, slow-moving lines (especially during the busy holiday season), and airport security can feel like an absolute nightmare. However, careful preparation and a tactful approach can help you breeze right on through. Here are a few tricks to help you whiz through the checkpoint and carry on your way.

The world's eeriest abandoned places: Google "Visit Chernobyl" and you'll get several tour results that guarantee a "radiation-free tour" of the infamously abandoned Reactor Number 4. The tour is so popular that Trip Advisor has a user-generated forum explaining the best way to visit it. Other abandoned places, like India's cursed city of Bhangarh, Rajasthan, are sanctioned by their respective governments, but still pose danger. A sign erected by the Archaeological Survey of India at the entrance to Bhangarh reads: "Entering the borders of Bhangarh before sunrise and after sunset is strictly prohibited." While the ancient curse clearly still has a hold over the current government, the sign is a sensible warning to anyone wanting to explore the city's crumbling Hindu temples. Skellig Michael, Europe's most inaccessible UNESCO World Heritage site, is just as dangerous: three tourists, including two Americans just this year, have fallen to their deaths while on the precipitous climb.

Apartment hunting In Paris: No Paris apartment is ever a sure thing. In New York, you are the consumer, the one with the power. Just as New York salespeople aim to assist and waiters work for a tip. In Paris, though, it's the real estate agent who has all the cards (and the waiter who gets paid a living wage plus social benefits) - who makes that ultimate decision. That decision as to whether you, O humble consumer, are worthy of that apartment or not. You will literally line up, along with dozens of other stupid-feeling similar income-level people, to submit a stack of papers that include your bank account number, proof of earnings, and tax records. And then the landlord or the real estate agency will choose which applicant "looks" best. The bad news is that this process leaves plenty of room for class and/or race prejudice in French landowners. The good news is, though, that French landowners enjoy a class- and race-blind history!